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Page 3 - Memo to Citizens of Lane County and Lane County Board of Commissioners <br /> Subj: Secure Rural Schools and Community Self- Determination Act of 2000 WP ca/vv/00035/T <br /> • Remaining General Fund Balance <br /> After taking out the funds set aside for dedicated purposes, and after covering the general <br /> fund deficit, the remaining available balance in discretionary general fund dollars is <br /> estimated at $1.3 million to $2.2 million, depending on the federal projects percentage. <br /> As indicated above, Title Two and Title Three do create some opportunities for Lane County <br /> government. Under Title Two, the 15 or 20 percent allocation mentioned earlier may be <br /> allocated for special projects on federal land. Under the law, the money is held by the federal <br /> government in either the Department of Agriculture or Department of Interior, and a rather <br /> complex approval process was created. <br /> All projects must be processed through a 15- member, three- subcommittee Resource Advisory <br /> Committee before they are forwarded to the appropriate secretary. Each subcommittee must <br /> approve the request before funding can move forward. The election by the County to send funds <br /> to Title Two must be made by September 30 of each year. Funding can be expended on habitat <br /> protection and enhancement, or other resource objectives consistent with the act. <br /> It is important to keep in mind that the funding is held by the federal government and must go <br /> through the Resource Advisory Committee before it is forwarded to the secretary. Also, it is <br /> important to remember that unexpended funds at the end of the six year legislation (one year <br /> after the expiration of September 30, 2007) revert to the federal government. Therefore, there is <br /> a risk that significant funds allocated to Title Two will be lost if they do not receive approval <br /> through the Resource Advisory Committee process or at the secretary level. <br /> Under Title Three, County projects operate a bit differently. In contrast to Title Two, the money <br /> is held by the County, not by the federal government. The County is obligated to notify the <br /> federal government of its selection each September 30. <br /> The list of permissible uses for these funds is broader. First, funds can be used for search and <br /> rescue and other emergencies on federal lands. Second, funds can be used for community <br /> service work camps performing mandatory community service on federal lands (both adult and <br /> youth facilities). Third, funds can be used for easements for non - motorized access to public <br /> lands in conservation easements. Fourth, funds can be used for forest - related after - school <br /> programs dealing with fire prevention education. Fifth, funds can be used for planning efforts to <br /> reduce or mitigate impacts on development on adjacent federal lands, and to increase the <br /> protection of people and property from wildfires. And, finally, sixth, funds can be used for <br /> community forestry. Again, unexpended funds are at risk if not expended within one year of the <br /> expiration of the act. <br /> The process for Lane County to follow under Title Two and Three has not been completed, and <br /> applicable federal agencies are busy developing the process. One exciting prospect for Lane <br /> County government is to consider using a portion of the Title Three funds for the Juvenile Justice <br /> Center, Forest Work Camp, search and rescue operations, and perhaps some of the additional <br />